Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas Region (Region VII). It occupies the southeastern half of Negros Island, with Negros Occidental comprising the northwestern half. The province has a total land area of 5,420.57 square kilometers and is composed of 19 municipalities, 6 cities, and 557 barangays. Dumaguete City serves as the capital and is also the most populous city in the province. The name 'Negros' is derived from the Spanish word for 'black,' referring to the dark-skinned native inhabitants encountered by early Spanish explorers.

HISTORY

Negros Oriental is a province in the Philippines with a rich history that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Before the arrival of the Spanish, the island was known as 'Buglas,' named after a type of tall grass, and was inhabited by indigenous groups such as the Ata and Bukidnon peoples. Spanish explorers arrived in 1565, and the term 'Negros' was later applied to the island, referring to the dark-skinned native inhabitants. In 1734, Negros was separated from Cebu and became an independent military district. On January 1, 1890, a royal decree officially divided the island into Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, with Dumaguete designated as the capital of the latter. During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, the Provincial Revolutionary Government was established in Dumaguete under Don Demetrio Larena. The American period brought the establishment of Silliman University in 1901, which became a significant center of education and culture. World War II brought Japanese occupation, but the province continued to recover and develop in the post-war years. In 1971, the island of Siquijor was separated to become an independent province. In more recent history, the Negros Island Region was created in 2015 but later dissolved in 2017, shaping the administrative landscape of the province today. Negros Oriental's history reflects a rich blend of indigenous traditions, Spanish and American influences, and modern developments that define its unique cultural identity.

QUICK FACTS
Population Census (2024)	1,492,038
Land Area (2015)	5,420.57 km²
No. of households	347,961
Average Household Size	4.11
Registered Voters	976,185
Major Landmarks	Dumaguete Belfry and Rizal Boulevard
Coastal Access	yes
Economic Zone estimated elevation above sea level	116 meters

Map

Negros Oriental Province is located in the Central Visayas Region (Region VII) in the southeastern part of Negros Island in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by Negros Occidental Province, on the east by the Tañon Strait and the island of Cebu, on the west by Negros Occidental, and on the south by the island province of Siquijor and the Bohol Sea.

MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA

Negros Oriental has 19 municipalities, 6 cities and 557 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Amlan	Municipality	8	25513	26566
Ayungon	Municipality	24	47102	50688
Bacong	Municipality	22	41207	43889
City of Bais	City	35	84317	88050
Basay	Municipality	10	28531	30018
City of Bayawan	City	28	122747	126744
Bindoy	Municipality	22	40308	41543
City of Canlaon	City	12	58822	62785
Dauin	Municipality	23	30018	30921
City of Dumaguete	City, Capital	30	134103	142171
City of Guihuangan	City	33	102656	106576
Jimalalud	Municipality	28	32256	32996
La libertad	Municipality	29	41089	42721
Mahnay	Municipality	32	82953	85770
Manjuyod	Municipality	27	44799	46461
Pamplona	Municipality	16	39805	41209
San Jose	Municipality	14	21956	22870
Santa Catalina	Municipality	22	77501	80382
Siaton	Municipality	26	83082	84169
Sibulan	Municipality	15	64343	69092
City of Tanjay	City	24	82642	84593
Tayasan	Municipality	28	38159	39005
Valencia	Municipality	24	38733	39986
Vallehemoso	Municipality	15	40779	42421
Zamboanguita	Municipality	10	29569	30412

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Age Group

Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 5-9 years, with 148,112 individuals, followed closely by those aged 10-14 years (145,578) and below 5 years (144,422). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 75-79 years, with only 16,140 individuals.

age	population_2020
Below 5	144422
5-9	148112
10-14	145578
15-19	138615
20-24	125503
25-29	117648
30-34	101119
35-39	87197
40-44	77680
45-49	71823
50-54	66179
55-59	61580
60-64	50693
65-69	38958
70-74	24415
75-79	16140
80+	17328

Population by Gender

In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 50.98% males and 49.02% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.

ECONOMY

Production Value of Agriculture and Fisheries in Negros Oriental (in Million Pesos)

Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)

title	2022	2023
Crops	13902	20638
Livestock	10807	11806
Poultry	1915	3292
Fisheries	2161	1477

BARANGAY